Police officer resigns amid investigation

A former police officer is under investigation for allegedly stealing more than $25,000 from the police union’s bank account while he served as the group’s president.

Nathan W. Fiske Sr., 33, of Holden resigned June 21 at the beginning of a disciplinary hearing with selectmen over the misuse of union funds, according to Police Chief Mark Leahy.

“Just as the hearing was beginning, we were all sitting there ready to go, and he chatted with his attorney and then asked if he could resign,” the chief said.

Mr. Fiske was hired as a dispatcher in 2007. While working for the town, he also worked part time as a Berlin police officer, Mr. Leahy said. He was hired as a full-time patrolman in Northboro in January 2007.

Mr. Fiske served as the president of the patrolman’s union from September 2008 to May 2012, when he was voted out and Detective Jeffrey R. Noel was elected to succeed him.

Detective Noel said he and other union officials repeatedly asked Mr. Fiske for the union checkbook, but he never relinquished it.

When the union began preparing for contract negotiations earlier this year, Detective Noel went to the bank and had his and the other new union officials’ names put on the account.

“I was shocked after we left the bank we noticed all of these transactions appeared to be nonunion activities,” Detective Noel said. “We thought he was a good cop before he did this. He betrayed us.”

The detective said about 25 patrolmen, sergeants and dispatchers pay $12 a week union dues into the account.

Chief Leahy said he, too, was shocked to learn of the alleged theft.

“I did not see this coming at all,” he said. “What has occurred here is no reflection on the men and women who work in this building. They are 100 percent outraged by this.”

Mr. Fiske’s lawyer, Robert Iacovelli of Worcester, could not be reached for comment.

An investigation is being conducted by the office of District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.

Contact Elaine Thompson at ethompson@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @EThompsonTG.